NOTE: Congratulations, Special Honours, Awards and Tributes, Birthdays, Obituaries, Anniversaries, and Special Occasion Greetings. You can post congratulations and your greetings to family and friends here. Recognition of awards, birthdays, weddings, graduations, etc.

Also Obituaries, the Passing of Elders, In Remembrance of Special People who have contributed during their time here on Turtle Island.

BC FERRIES, FIRST PEOPLES’ CULTURAL COUNCIL AND STZ'UMINUS FIRST NATION REVEAL COAST SALISH ARTWORK FOR SECOND SALISH CLASS VESSEL

VICTORIA – BC Ferries, the First Peoples’ Cultural Council and Stz'uminus First Nation revealed today the second of three Coast Salish artistic designs for BC Ferries’ new Salish Class vessels.(Larger image https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CsV8pa0WEAA9gSs.jpg )

Stz'uminus First Nation’s John Marston designed the artwork that will adorn the Salish Eagle. The artwork will also be displayed inside the vessel for customers to view along with a profile of the artist.

Coast Salish artist John Marston’s bold depiction of beautiful red eagles adorning the hull of the new vessel represents the strength and respect the eagle carries in First Nations culture.

Last August the First Peoples’ Cultural Council issued a call for artists and Coast Salish artists were invited to submit their portfolios for consideration. From 37 expressions of interest, a jury of artist peers and BC Ferries representatives identified a shortlist of nine artists who were invited to submit specific design concepts for the three Salish Class vessels. The jury reviewed thedesign concepts with attention to artistic excellence, Coast Salish artistic style, ability to express the vessel names through artwork, ability to provide digital images for fabrication and ability to meet the project timeline.

In addition to Marston being selected as one of the three artists, Darlene Gait fromEsquimalt Nation was selected to design the artwork for the Salish Orca. Her design was unveiled in March. The third artistic design by Thomas Cannell from Musqueam for the Salish Raven will be shared publically in the coming months.

The Salish Class ferries are currently under construction at Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland. All three vessels will be in service for the summer of 2017. The Salish Orca will replace the Queen of Burnaby on the Comox – Powell River route. The Salish Eagle will replace the Queen of Nanaimo on the Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands route. The Salish Raven will also provide service to the Southern Gulf Islands.

Under contract to the Province of British Columbia, BC Ferries is the service providerresponsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and dependable ferry service along coastal British Columbia.- 30 -

Quotes:“The Eagle is highly respected within our culture. It is a symbol of our spiritual connection to the natural world,” said John Marston, Coast Salish artist. “The Eagle has long been connected to us and carries our prayers to the Creator. Our guardian in life, we look to the teachings he offers us. The Eagle is beautiful and graceful with the never ending strength to survive. Over the years as an artist I have learned from our ancestors’ old artworks. It is important to me that this design was strongly influenced by these old masterpieces.”

“Marston’s bold and intricate design for the Salish Eagle is a striking demonstration of his talent,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ President and CEO. “The Coast Salish were the first mariners of the Salish Sea and we are so pleased to have Coast Salish artists like Marston to adorn the new vessels with their exceptional designs.”

“We are so pleased to see John Marston’s stunning design revealed today,” said Tracey Herbert, CEO of the First Peoples’ Cultural Council. “This important project recognizes the artistic traditions of the people of the Salish Sea and provides an opportunity for all of us to learn more about Coast Salish people, including their history and living relationships with the land, sea and animals. It has been an honour to work with the artists and BC Ferries on this project and we look forward to seeing the artwork adorning the new vessels.”